Tell him... "honey, I hear you. But if you and I are going to be married until we die, then, WE have to figure this out. Let's go and show them wrong. Let's you and I do this together. You and Me. Me and you. Fck 'em if they can't take it."
Be on his team, Heather. I know what it is like to come up against a family. He's worried. He should be. Now... go, TOGETHER, and change the perception.